45 
look for new discoveries, and for the means of establishing 
the rules of meteorology on a strictly scientific basis. 
The cost of carrying out the land meteorology scheme 
would be out of all proportion to the results ever likely to 
be obtained from it ; and it would be unjust to the com- 
mercial community to withdraw the funds which have 
hitherto been so usefully applied in the interests of 
humanity and commerce, and devote them to the esta- 
blishment, by an irresponsible body, of a scheme of such 
doubtful utility. 
It will be evident from the above remarks that the 
recommendation of the President and Council of the Royal 
Society, from whatever point of view it may be regarded, 
is a retrograde movement, opposed to the true interests of 
the science of meteorology, and likely, if acted upon, to 
retard its progress. It is therefore to be hoped that the 
Board of Trade will reconsider their decision, and not, for 
light and insufficient reasons, discontinue a system which, 
on grounds of humanity and commercial economy, has met 
with the general approval of the country, and is, moreover, 
so likely to contribute materially to the advancement of a 
popular and highly-important branch of science. 
Mr. Thos. Heelis, F.R.A.S., urged that the abolition of 
the cautionary signals would tell hardly against the coast- 
ing craft and fishermen. To large well-found sea-going 
vessels, well provided with instruments, the signals were 
not of much use, but the case was very different with the 
masters and owners of the coasting vessels who were unable 
to afford instruments. He instanced the case of the colliers 
which supply the large steamers at Southampton with coal 
brought from the south Welsh ports. These vessels have to 
make all their passages from Southampton to the westward 
in ballast, and it is of the utmost importance to them not to 
be caught by a gale from the southward between Plymouth 
or Falmouth and the Land’s End. He was not aware that 
